Van Gaal appointed Dutch national team new coach

The Dutch football association KNVB has roped in Louis van Gaal as the new head coach of the Netherlands national team.

Van Gaal will replace Bert van Marwijk, who left after a frustrating early exit at Euro 2012. The newly appointed coach signed a contract Friday until the 2014 World Cup and will resume his work on Aug 1. His first match will be a friendly against Belgium 15 days after his joining, Xinhua reports.

"I am pleased that the KNVB has approached me," Van Gaal reacted in a KNVB press release. "This is the challenge that I was waiting for."

Van Gaal, 60, had formerly given coaching to the Dutch national team in 2000 and 2001. He opted to leave when he failed to lead the "Oranje" to the 2002 World Cup.

Van Gaal last worked with Bayern Munich where he won the German double and reached the Champions League final in 2010. However in April 2011 he was fired after a series of bad results. Van Gaal also worked as coach of AZ Alkmaar, Ajax and FC Barcelona.

--with inputs from IANS